Andy Murray has removed any traces of doubt that might have lingered about his tennis future, confirming that he will retire from the game after the Paris Olympics.
The 37-year-old, known for battling through injuries and surgeries to continue his legendary career, hopes to compete in singles and doubles in what will be his fifth Olympics appearance for Great Britain.
“Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament,” the 2012 and 2016 Olympic medalist wrote on X. “Competing for Team GB has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get to do it one final time!”
Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament @Olympics
Competing for 🇬🇧 have been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get do it one final time! pic.twitter.com/keqnpvSEE1
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) July 23, 2024
Murray has dealt with a number of career-threatening injuries, including hip resurfacing, over the last few years, only to bounce back each time. He played in his final Wimbledon this summer, but could not play singles matches because he was recovering from back surgery. His final appearance on Centre grass court was an emotional one in which he and his brother Jamie lost a doubles match with family members looking on.
Afterward, with legendary Wimbledon champions looking on in tribute, he acknowledged how difficult a physical proposition tennis had become.
“I’m ready to finish playing. I don’t want that to be the case,” he told the crowd that day. “I would love to play, like I said, forever. But, today, even though it was a doubles match where physically it’s obviously not as demanding, it’s still really hard for me. … This year’s been tough with the ankle, then obviously the back surgery, obviously the hip. I’m ready to finish playing because I can’t play to the level that I would want to anymore.
“That’s something that I guess is a bit out of my control. If I knew my body was going to be able to do it, I would play — there’s nothing about the sport that I hate and I’m like, I don’t want to do it anymore for this reason. I like the travelling. I love the competition, practicing, trying to get better, all those things.
“I know that it’s time now. Yeah, I’m ready for that.”
Source link : https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/07/23/andy-murray-announces-retirement-olympics/
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Publish date : 2024-07-23 14:20:39
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